[2023] KEELC 51 (KLR)

[2023] KEELC 51 (KLR)

The court found that the requirements for a stay under section 6 of the Civil Procedure Act were not met, as the parties in Milimani CMCELC E260 of 2022 were not the same as in the present suit; the plaintiffs, though shareholders or directors in a company party to the other suit, are legally distinct from that...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2023] KEELC 51 (KLR)
Parties
Plaintiff: Alfred Kiprotich Lagat & 20 others (Suing as the Registered Unit owners of Apartments at the development known as Viraj Garden Apartments); Defendant: Transeshvi Limited; Defendant: Jayesh Viyaj Patel; Defendant: Vijaykumar Shamji Patel; Defendant: Joseph Kiarie; Defendant: Mundrika Patel; Defendant: The Owners, Sectional Property Plan No.145
Court
Environment and Land Court
Court Station
Environment and Land Court at Nairobi
Jurisdiction
Kenya
Case Number
Environment & Land Case E247 of 2022
Procedural Posture
Environment and Land Case / Ruling on Interlocutory Injunction Application
Outcome
Application allowed in part; interlocutory injunctions and mandatory orders granted as specified.
Judges
JO Mboya
Legal Topics
Sectional Property Management, Injunctive Relief, Service Charge Disputes, Corporate Governance of Apartments
Source Language
en
Land and Property Civil Procedure Sectional Property Management Injunctive Relief Service Charge Disputes Corporate Governance of Apartments

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Parties

Alfred Kiprotich Lagat & 20 others (Suing as the Registered Unit owners of Apartments at the development known as Viraj Garden Apartments)

Plaintiff

Transeshvi Limited

Defendant

Jayesh Viyaj Patel

Defendant

Vijaykumar Shamji Patel

Defendant

Joseph Kiarie

Defendant

Mundrika Patel

Defendant

The Owners, Sectional Property Plan No.145

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Environment and Land Case / Ruling on Interlocutory Injunction Application

  1. 1 Whether the suit should be stayed pending determination of Milimani CMCELC E260 of 2022.
  2. 2 Whether the plaintiffs have established a prima facie case with overwhelming chances of success at trial.
  3. 3 Whether the plaintiffs are likely to suffer irreparable loss unless the orders sought are granted.

Ratio Decidendi

The court found that the requirements for a stay under section 6 of the Civil Procedure Act were not met, as the parties in Milimani CMCELC E260 of 2022 were not the same as in the present suit; the plaintiffs, though shareholders or directors in a company party to the other suit, are legally distinct from that company. The plaintiffs established a prima facie case by demonstrating exclusion from management, lack of transparency in service charge accounts, and disconnection of essential services, all contrary to the Sectional Properties Act, 2020. The court held that disconnection of water and electricity to unit owners threatened their right to housing and sanitation under Article 43 of...

Court Disposition

Application allowed in part; interlocutory injunctions and mandatory orders granted as specified.

Orders

  • Temporary injunction restraining the 1st-5th defendants from interfering with, disconnecting, or discontinuing services (electricity, water, cleaning, security) to unit owners.
  • Mandatory injunction directing defendants to immediately reconnect plaintiffs to water supply at defendants' expense.